Governor Proclaims Teacher Appreciation Week and Teacher Appreciation Day 2021

WHEREAS, education has a limitless power to influence our state’s future through its impact on students; and

WHEREAS, teachers’ work opens students’ minds to ideas, knowledge, and opportunities and changes the lives of millions of children every day; their work has a lasting impact that extends far beyond the classroom; and

WHEREAS, having an effective teacher is the most important in-school factor for student success; and

WHEREAS, teachers are essential to empowering families and communities to support our children and contribute to the growth and progress of our state; and

WHEREAS, we must invest in our teachers if we wish to invest in the future of our state for generations to come; and

WHEREAS, a recent report from the National Education Association ranks North Carolina 33^rd for average teacher pay, down from 31^st in the 2018-19 school year and well below the national average; and 

WHEREAS, educators deserve to be paid like the professionals they areare, and we must raise teacher pay in North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, National Teacher Day was first celebrated by congressional declaration in March of 1980, and was moved and extended to the first full week of May by the National PTA and NEA Representative Assembly in 1985; and

WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina joins in honoring teachers and will continue our commitment to support our teachers and schools today and every day;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim May 3 – 7, 2021, as “TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK” and May 4, 2021 as “TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.